Archive for May, 2010

The Australian Computer Emergency Response Team (AusCERT) which wrapped up its security conference last week, will team up with a new security team as envisaged by the Australian government.

As part of the government’s cyber security strategy, the new CERT, which was started up in November 2009, will cover a wider area of security, including the ability to better analyse and protect against threats in the areas of government and infrastructure, education of Australians on threats, and make changes to the legal framework so that cyber-crime can be more effectively prosecuted.

So Apple’s newest gadget arrives in Australia in a week. Amongst all the hype, what professional people really want to know is how it will help with their business.

Customers in the United States have already had a chance to use the iPad. A review by Ubergizmo outlines useful features of this device:

Excellent 1024 x 768 display, allowing for good picture quality

Good picture brightness distribution

Same look and feel as Ipod touch

News applications: easy to access

Virtual keyboard: so much faster than a smartphone

Emails and calendar: simple to read and use

Effective use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook

Overall pros are that this is a good device for working with clients and customers alike, take it to business meetings to engage with your client, use it yourself with ease in many surroundings, for work and for play.

Are there any negatives? Of course, especially in a new device. There may be slower Web browsing, as well as impediments to file management such as inability to ‘drag and drop’ with the same ease of Macs.

Asia Pacific Information Security Conference (AusCERT) annual Autumn conference is taking place right now in the Gold Coast, from 16 – 21 May 2010.

This conference is known as the premier IT security event for professionals and featuresa large list of delegates and sponsors from the IT and security world coming together to share knowledge and expertise.

Finalists for security awards have been announced, with the awards dinner happening later this week.

IronKey products and expertise is on show at the Duo International Pty Ltd stand.

This week, litigation funder IMF Australia is financing a class action against Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB and Westpac on the basis that ‘exception fees’ charged by the banks including late fees and dishonour fees were out of proportion to the actual cost charged by the banks.

At todays 14 May 2010, 40,000 Australians have signed on as claimants.